Prepared for the Wakefield Heritage Commission

By Sheila Charles, MA

Victoria Bunker, PhDDennis Howe

With contributions byDavid Trubey, MA and Abbie Young

August 2011

Wakefield Industrial Sites Archaeological

Survey

Funded by a Preservation GrantFollowed NHDHR guidelines, in compliance with

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act

Phase 1A Archaeological Reconnaissance Historic research and archaeological field

investigations of a visible mill resources (max. 20), including above ground and submerged archeological elements

Town Wide Archaeological Survey & Sensitivity Assessment

to Document Historic Mill Sites

Historic archaeology is an important research method

for discovering evidence of the past, including Wakefield’s

first settlers, farmers, tavern keepers, Revolutionary & Civil War veterans,

and millers and industrialists!

Solving the Mysteries of the Past!

Multiple Research Locations

NH State Library

NH State Archives

Gafney Library

Town-Related Archives

Historic Maps

189 1892 Hurd Map

1805 Cook Map1805 Cook Map

Oral History InterviewsThe following historians, town residents, and agency representatives

contributed to the success of this project:  Amanda Bevard Peter Brown, Wakefield Heritage Commission Russell Chick Beryl Donovan, Wakefield Gafney Library Director Lisa Dudley Fr. Edmund, St. Anthony Church, Wakefield Dr. James Garvin, State Architectural Historian, NH Division of Historical Resources Gina Golden Ann (Paul) Hatch Maurice Hatch Tucker Herbarick Pamela Judge, Wakefield Heritage Commission Peter Kasprzyk,Wakefield Heritage Commission Cathy Kinville Randy Kinville Roger Kinville Ronald Kinville Tanya Krajdik, Records Coordinator, NH Division of Historical Resources Jennifer Rich, Wakefield Gafney Library Assistant Snooky Shea, Wakefield Heritage Commission Dr. Leith Smith, Historic Sites Archeologist, Maine Historic Preservation Commission Dr. Arthur Speiss, State Archeologist, Maine Historic Preservation Commission

Field Methodology

• Pedestrian surveys/visual walkovers to identify historic mill and dam locations

• Ground truthing of mill locations depicted on historic maps or known by residents.

• Recording details of historic foundations, dams, penstocks, race-ways, other archaeological features, as well as the terrain, vegetation, and landscape alterations.

•Taking representative photographs of the existing conditions of the site.

• Drawing scaled and measured maps of visible surface features and architectural elements.

No subsurface excavation or artifact recovery was undertaken.

Non-invasive field techniques resulted in no site impacts.

Research disclosed five discrete industrial clusters in Wakefield.

DORR’S POND AND WOODMAN PINE RIVER POND AND NORTH WAKEFIELDGREAT EAST LAKE, HORN POND AND SALMON FALLS

RIVER  LOVELL LAKE, UPPER BRANCH AND SANBORNVILLEBRANCH RIVER AND UNION

Each of these zones contained mills spanning multiple decades.

Some mills were small family operations, while others were large corporate owned establishments.

 

Campbell Mill Site (Outlet Belleau Lake) Alfred Woodman Mill Site (Unnamed stream , Woodman) Libby & Woodman – Chick Mill Site (Unnamed stream, Woodman) Pine River Pond Dam & Lumber Company Site (Outlet Pine River Pond) Pine Brook Mill Site (Pine Brook) Brackett’s Shingle Mill Site (Unnamed stream flowing to Lovell Lake) Lovell Lake Dam ( Outlet Lovell Lake) Sanborn Mill Site (Branch River) Sanborn Dam Site (Branch River) Marsh Road Site (Branch River) Union Meadows Dam (Branch River) Great East Lake Site (Outlet Great East Lake) Horn Pond Mill Site (Outlet Horn Pond) Wiggin Mill Site (Salmon Falls River)  Drew Mill Site (Branch River, Union)  Union Upper Dam Site (Branch River, Union) Union Middle Dam Site (Branch River, Union) Union Lower Dam Site (Branch River, Union)

Identified Historic Industrial Sites include:

Campbell Mill Site

Ruins of Dam

Campbell Sawmill

Alfred Woodman Mill SiteName of Business, Manufacture, or Product Lumber ShinglesCapital Invested in Real & Personal Estate in the Business

$800 $500

Raw material used, quantities 1000 200Raw material used, kinds Logs LogsRaw material used, values $500 $300Mill supplies, valueKind of motive power -steam, water, wind, horse, hand Water WaterSteam or water horsepowerMachines, description and numberGangs, number of Avg number employed, males 16yrs + 1 1Average number employed, femaleWages, total paid during yrWages, average monthly male labor $20 $18Wages, average monthly female laborWages, average day skilled mechanicWages, average day ordinary laborerNumber of months in operation 6 mo. 6 mo.

Number of hours in the ordinary day of labor

Annual Product, quantities Kinds, & values

90,000 ft Lumber$900

300 MShingles$550

Region logs procuredProportion of Logs brought in

1850 Products of Industry Alfred Woodman’s

Lumber and Shingle Mills (US Federal Census

Bureau 1850)

Libby & Woodman – Chick Mill Site

Libby & Woodman – Chick Mill Site

Recovered Artifacts

Francis Turbine from east side of mill

foundation

Libby & Woodman – Chick Mill Site

1805 Cook Map of Pine River Pond Area

Pine River Pond Lumber Co. Mill Site

Pine River Pond Dam

Pine River Pond Lumber Co. Site

Pine Brook Mill Site

Brackett’s Shingle Mill Site• Daniel Brackett operated a mill on the property c.1861-1880.

• Daniel Brackett’s shingle mill is depicted on the 1861 Walling map.

• Daniel Brackett was listed in the 1868 New Hampshire Business Directory as a carpenter & builder and shingle mill operator .

• Details of Brackett’s milling operations are recorded in the 1870 and 1880 US industrial census.

1870 & 1880 Products of IndustryDaniel Brackett’s

Mill(US Federal Census

Bureau 1870 &1880)

1870 1880

Name of Business, Manufacture, or Product Shingles & Clapboard Lumber & Saw MillCapital Invested, Real & Personal Estate in the Business

$2000 $ 500

Raw material used, Quantities, Kinds, Values 60 ?? M Pine $6005 M Oak $100

Logs $300

Mill Supplies, value $ 25Kind of motive power -steam, water, wind, horse, hand;Height/Revolutions per minute

Water 1 Water Wheel4 ft/40 Revolutions

Water Source, Ht of Fall Salmon Falls, 10 ftSteam or water horsepower 30 hp 25 hpSteam Power Boiler YesMachines, description and number 1 Shingle

1 “Plainer”1 Edger1 Clapboard1 Clothboard1 Lathe2 Saws

4 Saws 4 Circular Saws

Gangs, number of 1Average number of hands employed, males (16yrs +) 3 2 (maximum 3)Average number of hands employed, femaleWages, total paid during yr $800 $ 234Wages, average monthly cost of male laborWages, average monthly cost of female laborWages, average day’s for a skilled mechanic $1.50Wages, average day’s for an ordinary laborer $1.00Number of months in operation 12 months 6 Half time/ 6 IdleNumber of hours in the ordinary day of labor, May- Nov

Nov - May1010

Annual Product, Quantities Kinds, Values

300 M Shingles $75030 M Clothboards $3905 M Clapboard $15025 ft Lathe $ 62Jobbing & Repairing $150

100,000 ft lumber? staves$1400

Region logs procured NHProportion of Logs brought in NoneShip products on company vessels? No

Brackett’s Shingle Mill Dam

Brackett’s Shingle Mill Site

Brackett’s Shingle Mill Site

Lovell Lake Dam Site

1805 Cook Map

Lovell Lake Dam Site

Sanborn Mill Site

John W. Sanborn (1822-1903)

Merrill 1889:521

Sanborn Sawmill SiteProprietor’s Name John W. Sanborn John W. Sanborn John G. SanbornDate 1870 1880 1880Name of Business, Manufacture, or Product Saw Mill Lumber &

Saw MillLumber & Saw Mill

Capital Invested in Real & Personal Estate in the Business

$5000 $2000 $3000

Raw material used, Quantities Kinds, Values

150 ?? M Pine $1500350 M Hemlock $210025 M Oak $500

Logs$300

Logs$500

Mill Supplies, value $ 50 $ 50Kind of motive power -steam, water, wind, horse, hand;Height/Revolutions per minute

Water 1 Water Wheel3 ft/40 Rev.

1 Water Wheel4 ft/35 Rev.

Water Source, Ht of Fall Salmon Falls, 14 ft Salmon Falls, 8 ftSteam or water horsepower 25 hp 25 hp 18 hpSteam Power Boiler Yes YesMachines, description and number 1 Board circular saw 1 Circular Saw 1 Circular SawGangs, number of Greatest number of hands at any time 6 6Average number of hands employed, males (16yrs +)

15 6 4

Average number of hands employed, female

Wages, total paid during year $4500 $ 500 $1200Wages, average monthly cost of male laborWages, average day’s for a skilled mechanic $1.50 $1.50

Wages, average day’s for an ordinary laborer $1.00 $1.00

Number of months in operation 12 months 6 Half time/ 6 Idle 10 Full/ 2 IdleNumber of hours in the ordinary day of labor, May- Nov Nov – May

1010

1010

Annual Product, Quantities Kinds,

Values

150 M Pine boards $2100350 M Hem boards $3850750 ft Other Timber $700 Jobbing & Pkg $600

150,000 ft lumber$1200

150,000 ft lumber? staves$2500

Region logs procured NH Maine & NHProportion of Logs brought in Whole WholeShip products on company vessels? No No

1870 & 1880 Products of

IndustrySanborn Mills(US Federal

Census Bureau 1870 &1880)

Sanborn Sawmill Site

Sanborn Sawmill Site

Sanborn Saw Mill Wood Dam

Sanborn Grist Mill Site

Dam Foundation

Marsh Road Site

Union Meadows Dam Site

Great East Lake SiteGreat Falls Manufacturing

CompanyNewichawannock Canal

Newichawannock Canal mill stones capping canal walls

Great East Lake Site

Dry laid stone feature, possible mill building location

Great East Lake Site

Stone Arch

Bridge

Horn Pond Sawmill Site

Horn Pond Sawmill Site

Horn Dam

Horn Pond Mill Site

Horn Mill Canal

Horn Pond Mill Site Mill Foundations

Wiggin Saw Mill Site

Wiggin Saw Mill Site

Drew Mill Dam

Drew Grist Mill Site

Union Mills

Union Upper Dam Site

Union Middle Dam Site

Union Lower Dam Site

Wakefield’s industrial history and archaeological manifestations are special, locally distinctive and significant.

Archaeological research will continue to reveal new information, deepening our understanding and appreciation of Wakefield’s unique heritage.

RESULTS